No hearing for Rick Nash for hit on Tomas Kopecky

Per Larry Brooks, there will be no hearing for Rick Nash for his hit on Tomas Kopecky from last night (video below). The reason that the league gave is that initial contact was at Kopecky’s back, not his head. Honestly, this is a huge break for the Rangers. Nash should have been suspended.

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6 Responses to “No hearing for Rick Nash for hit on Tomas Kopecky”

Don’t know if I agree with a suspension, but I think it definitely deserved a hearing. If Nash defended it well (ie he turned and slipped, was initially going to be clean but Nash was surprised at the player’s turn in the middle of the hit etc) then only a fine or even no action.

I think the league should at least interview him and ask for his side and then make a decision. Again, I don’t think it was suspension worthy, but not even a phone call seems odd.

Nash should have been penalized on the play for incidental contact with the head, but the way Kopecky was turning and and lowered himself, what would have been a shoulder to shoulder hit turned into a hit from behind where Kopecky’s head was struck.

I don’t think this was intentional by Nash, nor do I think he could be suspended for the end-result of Kopecky’s last second turn.

Not suspendable based on how the NHL hands out discipline, I supppose. He left his feet, that should be enough. No complaints from me, Nash plays on, but the league is extremely inconsistent with its disciplinary actions. We’ve been down this road before, however, and these non-hearings are not helping the league’s “player safety” stance.